Bhagavad Gita · Gunatraya Vibhaga YogaChapter 14, Shloka 6 (14.6)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात् प्रकाशकमनामयम्
सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ
॥ 14.6 ॥
tatra sattvaṃ nirmalatvāt prakāśakamanāmayam
sukhasaṅgena badhnāti jñānasaṅgena cānagha
Translation
"O sinless one, of these, sattva, being pure, is illuminating and free from affliction (peaceful, untroubled); it binds through attachment to happiness and attachment to knowledge."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. nirmalatvāt sphaṭikamaṇir iva prakāśakam — clear like crystal, illuminating; how it binds: sukhī aham iti viṣayabhūtasya sukhasya viṣayiṇi ātmani saṃśleṣāpādanaṃ mṛṣaiva sukhe sañjanam iti, saiṣā avidyā — "I am happy" — fastening happiness (the object) onto the Self (the subject) — this is avidya; na hi viṣayadharmaḥ viṣayiṇaḥ bhavati.
Acharya Ramanuja. prakāśasukhāvaraṇasvabhāvarahitatā nirmalatvam — purity is being free from the tendency to cover light and happiness; prakāśasukhajananaikāntasvabhāvatayā prakāśasukhahetubhūtam.
Shridhara Swami. An image for sattva: nirmalatvāt svacchatvāt sphaṭikavat prakāśakaṃ — clear like crystal, and so illuminating; and the formula of bondage: ahaṃ sukhī jñānī ceti manodharmās tadabhimānini kṣetrajñe saṃyojayati — "I am happy, I am wise" — it fastens the properties of the mind onto the Self.
Madhusudana Saraswati. Sattva is caitanyasya tamoguṇakṛtāvaraṇatirodhāyakaṃ — it removes the veils of tamas and reveals consciousness; cidbimbagrahaṇayogyatvāt — it is fit to catch the reflection of consciousness.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.